Te Mana o te Wai Fund

Te Manatū Mō Te Taiao Te Mana o Te Wai fund has received a very positive response since it opened in February.

To process the expression of interests (EOI) that we have received to date, we closed the current round of the Te Mana o Te Wai fund on 13 July 2021.

Any updates on the fund will be available on this webpage, or you can subscribe for updates to tmotw@mfe.govt.nz.

• Support Māori to improve the health of freshwater bodies of importance to them
• Create nature-based employment opportunities
• Build capacity and capability for Māori to participate in and make decisions for freshwater management (including in the implementation of the Essential Freshwater reforms).

Together we want to ensure the freshwater of Aotearoa supports the health of our people, our environment and our economy.

In 2014, the Government provided $5 million (over two years) to create the Te Mana o te Wai Fund. The funding was announced in partnership with the Māori Party.

This funding was awarded through a one-off contestable funding round held in 2015.

The concept of Te Mana o Te Wai is central to the Government’s Essential Freshwater policies and regulations which came into force on 3 September 2020.

Find out more on the role of Te Mana o Te Wai in managing freshwater

Te Mana o Te Wai Fund Team